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Down on the Farm Update 3

9/4/2019

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PictureMichael's niece and sister

Here are the latest updates from our Down on the Farm documentary commission film makers. 

​With Spring well and truly on its way things are definitely livening up Down on the Farm...


Michael: March was indeed a busy time for the Balsdon Family. The sheep required constant care and every day saw each member undertake the same responsibilities. The sheep needed to be fed, drenched, moved around and the pens needed to be bedded up with fresh straw and eventually the sheep would be moved out of the farm and into the neighbouring fields.
During the month I focused on the daily routines with the filming centring around what Mum and Mel do on a daily basis. Mum and and Mel are usually the main people that work on the farm whilst Dad transports the sheep and also tends to the cattle who are calving at this time of year. They are the two people that are responsible for monitoring the sheep and making sure that the lambs are born without any complications.

On March 21st I interviewed Mel while she undertook one of her night shifts. I asked her what the purpose of night shifts were and also delved into her feelings about farming and I even asked her if she ever wanted to do anything else instead of farming. This for me gave great insight into why Mel works on the farm as I never took the time to ask her in the 19 years that I've been her brother and it was great to get to know my sister a bit better.

I also filmed my three year old niece Lola as she helped Mel out on the farm. Her enthusiasm and want to help out is remarkable especially because of how young she is. It was great seeing Mel showing Lola how to iodine the lambs, in order to stop any infection occurring in them, as it highlights how farming does help to strengthen the bond that they have.

The amount of footage I was able to gather was staggering and I'm not even finished yet with final interviews with the family and the interview with my sister Stacey while she is down helping still needing to be conducted as well as the filming of the lambs being put in the fields needed to be documented.

Follow Michael's Down on the Farm blog on his website.
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Michael's sister and mum working with the lambs
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Michael behind the camera
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Michael's niece amongst the sheep
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Michael gets a little help

Holly & Jo: On Friday 22nd February Holly and Jo of Black Bark Films and Dee Butterly of the Landworkers’ Alliance travelled down to Down Farm in Winkleigh, North Devon to visit Liv James as part of the Down the Farm Moving Image commission. We took this opportunity to meet Liv and Henry, take a tour of the farm and get to know each other a bit better over soup on a blustery sunny day.
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Polytunnels at Down Farm
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Inside the polytunnel
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Liv with the salads
Down Farm itself is located on the top of a hill with a view of Exmoor on one side and Dartmoor on the other. The growing field is south facing and the wind is relentless all year round. It’s beautiful, in direct sunlight for most of the day (on the days when the sun is out), and a polytunnel sits right in the middle.

We spent time discussing the logistics of the filming and the farm based events coming up throughout the year - any opportunities that might provide good moments to capture, such as the erection of a polytunnel in August, or a cob pizza oven earlier in the season. The harvesting of the farm produce starts in June, and Liv and Henry work with others to run the aptly named Harvest, a cooperative shop and education programme in Okehampton, as well as attending other farmers' markets as well as the day to day running of the market garden.

Over lunch we discussed how it feels to be a young woman moving from London to North Devon, the difference in their lives now - the perks of knowing if the surf is good by the view from the market garden, as opposed to the cultural diversity of East London. Rather than Liv’s previous life working in communications and marketing in the corporate sustainability sector in city, they are now focused on re-localising the food system - food politics at the local level rather than the global.
Henry mentioned that growing organic food locally ticks all the boxes when it comes to food politics. It’s tangible, positive and engaging. It’s not just romanticism. "A good farming system is the answer to a lot of things." Liv says at the end of the conversation. This is one of the angles that we want to explore in the film as we spend the coming months storyboarding and planning, liaising with potential composers and firming up the dates for our summer shoot. ​“I’ve never felt so stretched and pushed, and learning every day, it’s beyond anything I’ve ever expected, so much more than corporate sustainability.” - Liv James

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Linda enjoying her work!
Linda: It was lovely to be back on the farm at the end of March, I was greeted with glorious weather again and homemade soup and bread with Rose and Freddy. After lunch Rose and I went on a walk with Bailey (dog) around the farm, the fields were looking beautiful, Rose spoke about the tree planting and fences that had been built since my last visit. 
Since my last visit two of the young calves died as they contracted pneumonia. The calves were now on the other side of the shed and had a new daily routine for bedding. Both Rose and Freddy spoke about how machinery has helped them keep going especially as they are getting older. The bedding up is still strenuous but manageable as they are both so fit and strong. The older cattle were now in a different field this time and were awaiting their TB results, hopefully with the all clear; some would be off to market soon. Freddy enjoyed taking me to spend some time with them in the field, they were as friendly and inquisitive as last time! As Freddy arrives, the cattle immediately come over and announce their arrival.

Rose also spent some time talking with me about growing up on a farm, and she enjoyed sharing old photos from their photo albums.
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Dinnertime for Rose and Freddy's cattle
Rose and Freddy are such a team, and both care deeply for their livestock. Their cattle are happy and always a joy to see. The farm it is a very beautiful place and I can see why Freddy and Rose both talk about how lucky they are to have those moments of reflection. I'm hoping to return again in May for a day to capture the young cattle as they are moved into the fields for the first time.

​Florence: At the start of April I did some more filming with the Eveleighs as they came to the end of their lambing season - it was the first time I’d seen this first hand and it was an amazing experience to capture on film.


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New lamb at the Eveleigh's
I also spent a happy afternoon zooming around on the back of a quad bike (capturing some very shaky footage!) and having my first ride in a tractor. However, no one visits West Ilkerton during lambing without getting involved, and farmer Chris made his debut as a filmmaker capturing this clip of me delivering a very large ram lamb (which of course has been christened Florence!). Sarah talked me through the process and it was such a privilege to be one of the team for this lovely sunny birth. ​

video clip of Florence delivering her namesake!


PictureJames at work
James: Since winning the commission, my professional life has changed exponentially.  A personal milestone was achieved late in March, when I won a Craft Award for motion graphics from the Royal Television Society – Devon & Cornwall. I’ve had a blast flexing my creative muscles on the national stage and am truly excited to focus my attention on the Down on the Farm commission.

In terms of ‘Get Big, Get Different or Get Out’ I’ve been extremely busy, completing the pre-production phase of the film in late February, and have secured the equipment, crew and permissions needed for shooting. I am in the midst of putting together a comprehensive production document, which I am hoping will support the film and its findings across the research portion of pre-production, as well as informing potential audiences of the complete process across the films production.

During this time, I have also been building a relationship with my contributor, Wayne Copp. We’ve arranged a 3-day shooting phase in late May and are both itching to get started. I have recruited Curtis Pyke (former work experience student at North Devon Moving Image) as a camera assistant. Curtis is a first-year student at UWE (University of West England) and is an amateur drone pilot and cameraman.
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I feel 100% confident that we are fully prepared and are ready to enter the shooting phase of the project and I can’t wait to release some product stills, behind the scenes shots and of course – the final piece in November 2019.


Thank you to all our project funders and partners who are making this exciting project happen!
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Down on the Farm Newsletter Number One

20/11/2018

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Over the next year we will be bringing you updates from our Down on the Farm film makers who will be 'out in the field' in north Devon creating a very special collection of short documentary films.

THE FILM MAKERS

Congratulations to our film makers!
Florence Browne from Cornwall
Holly Black & Joanne Barker from Bristol
James Cox from Devon
Linda Mason from Hampshire
Michael Balsdon from Devon
Joanna Ryan from Devon (edit - Jo joined the fold in July 2019)

The commissionees were selected by an independent panel of professionals, from the film/tv, heritage and environment industries, out of a field of over 40 applicants aged between 18 and 72

THE FILMS

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James - As political turmoil surrounding the Brexit result takes hold with cheaper, lower quality products set to be imported from abroad, affecting the future of British agriculture; farmer Wayne Copp is preparing to face Brexit and ready his children as they prepare to become the 5th generation to work his farm.

​Linda - Rose Manning was born in 1945 and has been in farming all her life. Rose is the eldest daughter of 3 girls and she took the role of future farmer in the absence of her parents having a son. Lifelong Farmer will be told through memories of Rose, through informal conversations whilst she is working with the animals and in the kitchen.

Florence - The film will focus on the Eveleigh family's recently begun 'meat box' scheme, an enterprise which sees them take their own livestock from their farm on Exmoor to the local abattoir in Combe Martin and produce high-quality meat boxes which they can then sell. The focuses on the importance the family place on a small, local abattoir, as this is a crucial factor in the animals' welfare but is often overlooked by the general public.
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Holly & Jo - All Down Farm’s produce is eaten within a 20 mile radius of the farm. By engaging with their wider community, market gardeners Olivia and Henry believe not only does this help to strengthen the resilience of the farm itself but also helps rebuild local food networks, links and relationships - links that were once at the core of rural farming communities.

Michael - The lambing season on Michael's family's farm. Focusing on Michael's Mother, Sister Mel and her 3 year old daughter, this inter-generational perspective exemplifies the importance of women in the continuation of farming life.

(edit July 2019) Jo - The film is about grazing sheep on Northam Burrows Country Park. It will focus on farmer Ronald Griffey who has grazed sheep there for over 40 years and the rewards and challenges this gives him. Northam Burrows is an unusual landscape rich in plants and wildlife. As common land, it has a long history of grazing rights. Ronald and his family have a strong connection with the burrows and grazing sheep there. Ronald’s father had grazing rights on the burrows, and Ronald’s son now helps him.

THANKS

TO OUR FUNDERS
​North Devon's Biosphere Reserve
​North Devon Coast AONB

Fullabrook CIC
Clinton Devon Estates
The Golsoncott Foundation
Mole Valley Farmers
Devon County Councillor
North Devon Councillors
West Devon Borough Councillor
The Norman Family Charitable Trust

THANKS

TO OUR SUPPORTERS
​The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon
​North Devon Coast AONB

Mole Valley Farmers
Beaford Arts
Torridge District Council
The National Trust
Devon and Cornwall Film
Maniac Films
The North Devon Show
The Plough Arts Centre, Torrington

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PictureFilm Maker Linda Mason Down on the Farm
"Rose has been farming all her life and now even in her mid seventies she is still caring for the young cattle and supporting on the farm.  I will tell Rose’s story through her daily routines on the farm and in the kitchen baking, as she prepares food and reminisces about her life. Lifelong Farmer will weave together archive material, intimate and personal recollections of being a woman in farming over many decades." 
Linda Mason

​"I'm excited to be part of this project, which will shine a light on Exmoor farming at an important and challenging time. I hope the film I make with my chosen farm will boost awareness of the need for small, local abattoirs, and how crucial they are for the welfare of the animals" 
Florence Browne
Our applicants found us via: 
Local press: North Devon Gazette & North Devon Journal
Newsletters: Arts Council & Visual Arts South West
Social media: Facebook, Twitter & LinkedIn
Plymouth College of Art
Film makers convention
Email, Word of mouth & Internet searchNorth Devon Coast AONB
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North Devon Farmer Film Wins ARRI Doc Challenge

29/3/2018

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North Devon documentary maker Martin Kemp has won the very first 2018 ARRI Doc Challenge film competition for his three minute film, Where the Land Falls.  The film sees Ed Strawbridge, a third generation dairy farmer at Down Farm in North Devon, looking at photographs of his family by James Ravilious. Ed reflects on how farming life has changed during his lifetime.

As a supporter of North Devon Moving Image (NDMI) and former film judge himself (for our Wild Shorts competition) we are thrilled that Martin is sharing his film with us for the NDMI collection.
PictureMartin Kemp, third from left
The theme for the inaugural ARRI Doc Challenge was “Millennial”. As the winner of the competition, Martin received a cash prize of £3,000.  “For me, having the chance to play with the ARRI Amira for three days was an unmissable opportunity. It’s a wonderful camera and I very quickly fell in love with it. The challenge to shoot and edit a film in just three days is certainly tough but it’s a great discipline. Plus you have the privilege of being able to make the piece you want to make without commissioning editors!” said Martin.

Thank you Martin and well done.  A great film and doing the job that Ravilious did with his engaging photographs - preserving North Devon stories on film.

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New Project Research - North Devon Farmers

6/10/2015

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North Devon Moving Image is currently researching a new film making project about farming in North Devon.

​We loved making our Instow Barton: This Farming Life film and see a great value in producing more films about North Devon's farming heritage.  

We are now looking for characters and stories for this new series so if you would like to share your farming family's heritage with us and the wider world or if you know of someone who would make a great subject for a short film, please get in touch.

We are currently seeking funding for this project, which will include a programme of screening events, and any support of match funding will be most welcome.  All being well, we hope to begin production in the Spring of 2016.
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Gareth Alvarez, Creative Director

email: northdevonmovingimage@outlook.com
telephone: 07951274610

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